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India, Pakistan Claim Ready for Talks

Published 8:00 pm, Sunday, May 11, 2003

India and Pakistan said Monday they have prepared "road maps" for peace talks, which are likely to start with easier issues such as travel and cultural contacts before moving to the thornier problems like their dispute over Jammu-Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Indian Defense Ministry conducted its third test in four days of an air-to-air missile with a range of up to 25 miles. The ministry said Monday's test was part of routine research on the Astra missile before a decision is made on including it in India's arsenal. Pakistan said it was not warned of the test.

Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha's comments on the preparations for talks indicated that India remains serious about proceeding with the dialogue, aimed at resolving decades of animosity between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

"Every step is clear in our mind. There is no confusion in the government of India and we will proceed according to that plan," Sinha said in an interview with the New Delhi Television network.

"As far as we are concerned in India, we have very, very clearly worked out the entire road map," Sinha said. He gave no details, although Indian officials have repeatedly said they would like to form a conducive atmosphere for dealing with tough problems by increasing trade and cultural contacts.

Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said his government also has prepared plans for the talks.

Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali "has made his own road map, which will begin from small issues and (move) to the solution of Kashmir," he said by telephone Monday.

The countries have fought two of their three wars over Jammu-Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between them but claimed by both in its entirety. They came close to another war last year.

Ahmed said on Sunday that peace talks between the South Asian neighbors could begin as early as next month.

Both India and Pakistan have expressed the need to approach the talks in stages, with meetings between lower officials leading to eventual summit talks. But neither side has indicated when the talks would begin or whom they would involve.